Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Jay’Viar Suggs entering 2026 NFL Draft
Wisconsin football defensive lineman Jay’Viar Suggs, a transfer from LSU and Grand Valley State, has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
After one season with the Wisconsin football program, a one-year rental on the defensive line is declaring for the NFL draft process.
Jay’Viar Suggs, a 6-foot-3, 299-pound defensive tackle from Flint, Michigan, announced on Sunday that he will declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, closing the book on a college football career that was anything but linear and ending with a brief but noteworthy stop in Madison.
Suggs’ path to Wisconsin was unconventional even by modern standards.
It was shaped by patience, calculated risk, and a steady belief that his game would translate if he ever got the right opportunity. He didn’t arrive with fanfare or guarantees. Suggs arrived chasing development, Power Four competition, and a final chance to put himself on the NFL’s radar.
That journey started at Division II Grand Valley State in 2021. Suggs redshirted his first season, then grew into a disruptive interior defender over the next two years under head coach Matt Mitchell, who now serves as Wisconsin’s outside linebackers coach.
Across 22 games in 2022 and 2023, Suggs posted 42 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, nine pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. The production earned him All-GLIAC honors and, more importantly, attention from the FBS level.
That attention led him to LSU, where he took the next step up the ladder as a transfer.
Playing in Brian Kelly’s defense, Suggs appeared in 12 games, logging 133 snaps in a deep rotation. The stat line was modest: 10 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and two pass deflections, but the underlying tape told a more encouraging story. According to Pro Football Focus, he generated 12 pressures in limited opportunities, flashing the same burst and power that made him productive at the Division II level.
The issue wasn’t effectiveness. It was consistent playing time.
When another portal window opened, Suggs bet on familiarity and fit.
Suggs committed to Wisconsin, reuniting with Mitchell and joining an overhaul of the Badgers’ defensive line room under position coach E.J. Whitlow. The Badgers needed experienced bodies with more size. Suggs needed snaps. The short-term marriage made sense for both sides.
During a 4-8 season under Luke Fickell, Suggs became a steady rotational piece up front, appearing in 12 games and working his way into spot starts. Across 334 snaps, he totaled 10 tackles, 16 pressures, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a pass defended. Suggs finished with a 64.2 overall defensive grade from PFF, a 63.5 mark against the run, and a 64.5 grade as a pass rusher.
He was brought in to help stabilize a room, play meaningful snaps, and provide physicality and pressure inside. By that standard, he delivered. More than anything, Suggs gave Wisconsin what it badly needed in 2025: a veteran presence who understood leverage, effort, and how to survive in the trenches. For a defense trying to reestablish itself, that mattered.
On Dec. 14, Suggs made his decision public, declaring for the NFL Draft.
“First, I want to thank God for making all of this possible. To my family, friends, and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Suggs wrote. “To Coach Bo Davis and Coach Brian Kelly, thank you for taking a chance on a kid coming from D2. And to Coach Fickell, Coach Mitch, and Coach Whitlow, thank you for giving me the opportunity to showcase myself in my final season.
“To my parents, thank you for every sacrifice. You had my back no matter the situation. I love y’all more than anything. With that being said, I’m truly blessed to announce that I will be declaring for the NFL Draft.”
Suggs leaves Wisconsin with no eligibility remaining and a resume that reflects resilience. He proved he could climb the ranks, take to coaching, and contribute wherever he landed. For the Badgers, Suggs was a short-term solution in a season defined by transition and adaptation. For Suggs, it was the final step toward the NFL opportunity that he’s been chasing.
Now the evaluation process begins, with Suggs set to go through pro day workouts and, if the opportunity presents itself, showcase his skill set at the NFL Combine as he looks to make his case to play at the next level.
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